Apparatus for making large hollow articles



Npv. 19, 1963 14 shefts-sheet 1 Filed Aug. 1l, 1960 Nov. 19, 1963 E. G. ENGMAN APPARATUS RoR MAKING LARGE RoLLow ARTICLES Filed Aug. 11, 1960 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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APPARATUS FoR MAKING LARGE RoLLow ARTICLES Filed Aug. 11, 1960 A 14 Sheets-Sheet `10 INVENTOR.

Nov. 19, 1963 E. G. ENGMAN APPARATUS FOR MAKING LARGE HOLLOW ARTICLES Filed Aug. 1l, 1960 14 Sheets-Sheet l1- INVHVTOR.

Nov. 19, 1963 E. G. ENGMAN 3,110,928

APPARATUS FCR MAKING LARGE HOLLOW ARTICLES 14 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed Aug. 11, 1960 5 5w $596 xgg afa/f wn/442 IN VEN TOR.

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Nov. 19, 1963 E. G. ENGMAN 3,110,928

APPARATUS FOR MAKING LARGEV HOLLOW ARTICLES Filed Aug. 11, 1960 14 sheets-sheet 1s 7%? TT 749 635d INVEN TOR. KA/ "36% 05,91/ {1w/4,0

E. G. ENGMAN 3,110,928

Nov. 19, 1963 APPARATUS FOR MAKING LARGE HOLLOW ARTICLES 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,110,928 APPARATUS FR lt/ll-lliiNtG LARGE HLLOW ARTICLES Eugene G. Engrnan, )Point GPalms, Nolromis, Fla. filled Aug. 11, 1969, Ser. No. 49,999 12 Claims. (Cl. 18--5) -My invention relates to apparatus for making large hollow plastic articles.

As is well known, blow molding is a process for the manufacture of hollow articles wherein a hollow piece of plastic material or parison is held in an exterior mold and air is blown into the hollow of the material to expand it against the mold. The general practice has been known for many years in the bottle making industry but has only recently been applied to the fabrication of plastic articles.

The machine of my invention has several novel features which, to my knowledge, make possible for the first time the blow-molding of really large hollow articles. The machine consists of two identical halves each of which possesses extrusion mechanism and a mold whereby the plastic articles are formed alternately by each of the halves. ln pursuit of this alternate operation I provide novel mechanism for accumulating alternately measured quantities of plasticized polymer for alternate ejection into each of the machine halves. Since the machine of my invention was designed for the purpose of manufacturing large articles such as 55 gallon containers it is evident that a relatively large amount of plastic must go into each container. Extruders which soften or melt plastic and deliver it to a molding machine have a necessarily limited output in that the heat transfer properties of plastic materials are relatively poor and high temperatures cannot be used lest decomposition of the plastic take place. Since my process involves the formation of a free-hanging tubular parison in substantially duid condition, delivery of the plastic must be complete within seconds. To meet this diiculty I have provided novel mechanism for the alternate accumulation of plasticized polymer from the extruder, one associated with each side of the machine, so 4that the output of the extrude'r may be accumulated to the quantity necessary for one of my containers and ejected With ygreat rapidity at the desired stage in the cycle in the operation of Ithe machine so that the fluid parison so formed can be treated as virtually a solid parison, for an instant holding its shape, sullicient to close the mold about the parison and begin its expansion into the mold.

Another novel characteristic of my invention resides in the timing of the relation between the formation of the parison and the closing of the molds thereon, whereby the containers are blown within a very short interv-al after parison formation.

Another feature of note in the machine of my invention resides .in the means by which my molds are closed. The parison as eiected from die head of the machine is an open ended tube. The mold is formed in two symmetrical halves. The bottom edges of the mold halves are employed to pinch closed the parison at the bottom end thereof and to neck down the parison at the top end to fit closely around an air iniection nozzle. Under common practice one die half is stationary and the other die half is movable toward and away from it. Since the parison must be extruded between the two die halves the unilateral movement of the movable die half toward the stationary die half will result in an unsymrnetrical closure of the parison at the bottom end and pinch oil at the top end with consequent unsymmetrical tliinness of the parison wall in taose areas. ln small articles employing a parison of small diameter,

the problem may be inconsequential but in molding large articles such as l have in mind, l find a parison having a diameter on the order of four inches to be necessary and in so large a parison the problem is serious. To meet this difficulty l have devised this novel mechanism whereby a symmetrical closing of the mold halves on the parison is achieved even though only one of the mold halves is powered for movement.

Other objects and advantages and features of novelty of my invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a yfront elevation of a machine embodying my invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

rFlG. 3 is an elevation thereof taken lfrom the right side of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section lthrough the right hand -accumulator and die head of the machine taken substantially along the line 4-4 of IFIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

lFIG. 5 is a section taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows;

lFIG. 6 is a transverse section through the T-joint connecting the extruder to the accumulators;

PEG. 7 is a side elevation of the outside of the right hand carriage of the machine;

FIG. 8 is a section taken along` the line 8 8 of FlG. 7 looking in the direction of the arrows and showing other associated parts;

FIG. 9 is an end elevation of the cutter assembly taken substantially from the line 9 9 of FiG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation of the blowpipe assembly;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged elevation, partly in section, of the blowpipe cylinder and associated parts;

FIG. 12 is a top plan View of the blowpipc assembly table taken substantially from the line 12-l2 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a transverse vertical central section through my *machine shown somewhat diagrammatically with some parts removed showing two sets of representative dies as mounted in the machine in a stage in the working cycle tof the machine;

FiG. 14 is a top plan view of one FIG. 13;

FiG. 15 is a section through the surface or" a die showing a trapped air escape poppet valve;

FlG. 16 is a section taken substantially along line 16- 16 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the limit switches and control rods thereof in elevation;

FIG. 17 is a bottom plan view of one side of my machine showing the parison follower supporting structure;

FIG. 1S is an end elevation of the parison follower assembly;

FIG. 19 is a side elevation thereof;

G. 2() is a top plan view of the parison follower table;

FIG. 21 is a top plan view of the parison follower assembly taken substantially from the line 2li- Ztl of FlG. 19 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FG. 22 is a side elevation of the bottom end of the mechanism as illustrated in PEG. 21;

FG. 23 is a diagrammatical representation of the hydraulic circuit and mechanism for operating my machine;

FlG. 24 is a diagrammatic representation of the pneumatie system thereof;

FlG. 25 is a diagrammatic representation of the parison follower hydraulic system; and

FIGS. 26A and B are an electrical circuit diagram for the machine.

Referring particularly to FlGS. l, 2 and 3, the illusset of the dies of trated embodiment of my machine consists of a rectangular base composed of l-beams lllappropriately welded together and adapted to rest on a iloor or over a pit. A pair of substantially square end plates l2 are mounted vertically at the ends of the base and a similar stationary center plate ld spans the base at its center. Bottom and top columns lo, l extend from the corners of each of the end plates to corners of the center plates lli. The columns are appropriately threaded and shouldered to secure the three plates together in rigid fashion and to provide guides tor the movement of other members of my machine.

The end plates mount double acting hydraulic cylinders 2l? on their outside surfaces. The rams 22 thereof extend through the end plates l2 and are connected to clamps The clamps are square plates mounted on columns lo aud l by bearing-equipped bores in the corners thereof. The rams Z2 are fixed to the clamps 24 as by threading or the like so as to move the clamps toward and away from the center plate ld on the columns. The top columns i8 likewise mount a pair of carriages 28, one on each side of the center plate l. The carriages have mounted thereto accumulators 35i with hydraulic operating mechanism 32 and dic heads 34 carried by `the accumulators. Blowpipe assemblies 36 `are also carried by the carriages to be centered over the die heads 34. My machine also incorporates an extruder 3S as a source of plasticized polymer such as polyethylene or the like. The extruder is a commercial article of manufacture having heated walls and incorporating an auger to move the plastic to the outlet il@ thereof. The outlet of the extruder is connected to the accumulators by means of a T-pipe assembly 42. The extruder may be mounted on a table 44E- so as to position it properly with respect to the molding machine.

Considering particularly FIGS. 7 and 8 in which the right hand carriage 28 is illustrated, the carriage consists of an L-shaped vertical web lo bounded by plates secured at right angles thereto. A front face plate d8 is secured diagonally across the front edge of the web '4.6 so as to project outwardly of the web at its lower end as at Sil and inwardly of the web at its upper end as at On the inside of the downward projection 55 of the L a plate 5451 is secured which extends outwardly from the web 46 a distance equal to the lower end Sill of plate fill. The lower end of the projection 56 is cut out on an arc and a sleeve bearing S is welded longitudinally to the bottom edges of the plates 4S and 54. A plate d@ is welded to the under side of the web 46. Plate o@ is shaped to provide outwardly extending gussets 62. at each end of the web 4o and a trapezoidal cutter `mount 64 extending inwardly of the web 45. Rectangular plates 65 are welded on their bottom edges and side edges to the cutter mount od and the inside face of the web flo for stiifening. The rear end of the web has a plate 68 welded thereagainst substantially even with the web on the inside surface and extending substantially outward therefrom.

Plate 68 therein has welded thereto a substantially triangular vertical plate 7h extending oppositely from web 45 and in a plane parallel to web 4,5 but substantially outward therefrom. Plate '7u has a horizontal top edge 72 and an upwardly and rearwardly sloping bottom edge 74. A plate 76 is secured to edge 74. The bottom corner of plate itl is cut out on an arc and a relatively long sleeve bearing 7S -is secured to the bottom edges of plate o8 and 7o as by welding. Bearings 58 and 7S are mounted on columns l.

Above the bearing 7d, plate 'tl has a long internally threaded sleeve Sil projecting outwardly therefrom and a boss `82 on the inside surface in alignment with sleeve Si?. Rearwardly of the sleeve Sil' three holes 34 are bored through plate '70. The rear end or plate 73, which would be the acute angle of the triangle, is truncated and has a rear end plate So welded thereagainst. A central sup- 4 port plate is welded along its bottom edge and side edge to plate 7d and plate "tl respectively between the holes 34 and the end plate do for additional strength.

A top plate gli is secured across the whole of thc carriage. The top plate is relatively narrow toward the front of the machine and lies largely to the inside of web 456. ln that area thereof over plate l' the top plate is extended outwardly to provide a table 9?, for accumulator. The rem inside corner of the table 92 may be beveled as at 94 in order that the extruder 38 may be properly placed close to the machine.

Referring additionally to FIGS. 4 and 5, a pair of square blocks 96 and 93 are secured in spaced relation on the tops of the carriage tables $2 by bolts lille extending up through the table. The blocks are tied together by shouldered bolts lill?. The rearrnost block 93 mounts the two-way accumulator hydraulic cylinder 32 on its rear side. `Block `mounts the accumulator shell les on its front side. rlhe shell is a heavy walled cylindrical member open at its rear end and bored on its rear edge for the reception of bolts lilo by which the shell is secured to the block 96. The shell has a longitudinally narrow inlet port ltl Vformed in the wall thereof about at the longitudinal center thereof. The shell contains a relatively long piston or plunger `ilu, the plunger being about half as long as the interior cavity of the shell itself. An adapter llZ is secured to the rear surface of the piston llt) by bolts illfl. The adapter has a threaded bore il@ in the center thereof which is threaded on to the rod lill of the operating cylinder 32. An outlet port lli is provided in the closed forward end @L24 of the accumulator Shelli The die head includes an outer shell 326 which is essentially an elbow with a horizontal portion 128 and a downwardly directed portion i3d. The horizontal portion has a flange i512. `at the iree or rearward end thereof through which bolts ld are passed to secure the die head to the front face of the accumulator shell. rlhe horizontal portion, of course, has a bore lilo therethrough in registry with the outlet `1.22 of the accumulator. The vertical portion l@ of the die head shell is likewise hollow, the Icentral bore thereof communicating with the bore i3d in the horizontal portion. The lowest part of `the vertical portion has a relatively lange internal diameter, this portion constituting Va female die receptacle 13S. The receptacle portion terminates at its upper end in a shoulder Mtl, land upwardly of the shoulder the internal diameter is somewhat less, constituting the upper part M2 of the' parison forming passage lll-4. Upwardly of the top wall of the horizontal bore lh the internal diameter is still further reduced as at lido to constitute a male die seat and upwardly of the seat a blow/pipe bore conununicates with the exterior.

The anale die 159 is :a tubular member having a central blowpipe `bore .152 therethrough equal in diameter to the blowpipe bore i143. At its upper end 15d the male die has a smaller exterior diameter proportioned to be contained snugly in the male die seat las of the outer shell ,7.26. About half way down the male die swells conica'lly outward as at i156 and terminates at its lower end in a larger lcylindrical portion 3.53. Bolts loll extend through the top surface of the outer shell lh closely around the blowpipe bore M8 and into the upper end of the male die to secure it in the seat ldd'. About `half way down the vertical portion of the outer shell, set screws lo?. having pins lo@ extend through appropriately tapped holes in the outer shell :and bear against the side walls of themale die to support it within the outer shell. There, may be four of the set screws lol. The female die lati is essentially `a length of tube having an outside diameterl appreciably less than the inside diameter of the femaledie receptacle i3d. A retainer ring loll is secured against the bottom end of the vertical portion. of the outer shell as by screws 117'@ and overlaps the lower end of the female die to hold it in place. The female; die loo should :be

aliases slightly longer than the female die seat 13S so that the retainer ring 163 can pinch it against shoulder ddii.

Set screws 172 extend through appropriate threaded bores in the outer shell l1.26 and into the female die receptaole 13S to bear against the female die and center it with relation to the male die 15d.

FIG. 6 illustrates in detail the T-pipe assembly by which the extruder is connected to the accumulators. The front end i74- of the extruder 32 has an outlet port 276 therethrough thro-ugh which the plasticized polymer is delvered to the molding machine. A ring i755 surrounds the outlet port 176 and is spaced radially outwardly from it. The ring has a substantially spherical concave front face ld. A pipe `152 having an internal diameter equal to the extruder outlet 176 has a bead ld formed there- `about adjacent its inlet end. The sides of the bead are complementary to the curvature in the face ld of the ring i173. A second retainer ring i3d having a concave bead-engaging edge iii-t3 and ttiug the pipe li2 loosely is -mounted on the pipe to the front of the bead it-4. Lock ring i9@ clarnps the bead i154 of the pipe between the two concave surfaces of the ring 173 and the rin-g 186 to secure the pipe in fluid-tight relation against the outer end of the extruder. ,Ring i90 overlaps the outer edge of ring 136 but tits the pipe 132 even more loosely than ring 186. Bolts 192 extend through appropriate bores in the ring 99 and into threaded holes in the extruder end 174 to etiect the clamping described.

The other end '193 of the pipe has circumferential -grooves 194 formed about the outside surface thereof. The end 193 is telescopically contained in a itting 1%. The fitting includes a sleeve 19S which contains the end 193 of pipe E82 and a concentric bore 2d@ of less diameter extending forwardly beyond sleeve 1% which may be plugged as by a plug 2%-2 or be equipped with a pressure relief valve or a pressure gauge. The fitting Elikewise has a cross bore 264 therein which intersects sleeve '193. Pipe extensions 2% `are welded to the fitting to extend the cross bore 26d. The extensions 296 lalso have circumferential grooves 2123 in the exterior thereof at their free ends 2id.

Telescoping sleeves 212 fit over the pipes 2% and have at their remote ends a bead 2M convexly curved on both surfaces.

The wall of the accumulator shell 'ille has the aforementioned inlet port ldd therein. On the exterior of the shell about the inlet port -a ring 2id is formed having a concave surface 218 against which the outer surface of bead 2id seats. The bead is clamped against the ring 2X6 `by a lock ring '22d having an inclined or concave bead engaging sur-face 222 to engage the opposite or inner side of the bead.

Bolts 224 extend through the lock ring into the accumulator shell ldd to clamp the ring against the bead 214 to secure it in fluid-tight relation to the accumulator shell wall.

The purpose `of this T-pipe assembly is to accommodate small errors in the placement of the extruder relative to the molding machine and metal expansion caused by the flow of hot plastic therethrough. The machine and extruder are both very heavy and dicult to place exactly with respect to each other. The joint described at the extruder outlet permits a slight ymisalignment both in placement and in angle between the two members and the joints connected to the acctnnulator shells permit an error 1n angle. The telescoping connection of the pipe en'd 193 in the sleeve 19S compensates for thermal expans1on of pipe 182. The joints at the accumulator shells also permit a bowing of the cross member consisting of the Sleeves 212 and the fitting due to pressure of the extruded plastic on the fitting. rlflhe grooves 194 and ZlrS receive, at first, a seepage of plastic which subsequently acts as a seal.

The blowpipe assembly 36 fis particularly illustrated in FGS. l0, 1l and 12. This assembly consists of a support 226 which has a base 228 bolted to the top 96) of the carriage 23 at a point midway between the bearings 58 and 7S so as to be centered on the longitudinal axis of the machine. The support consists of a long, slightly inclined tapering plate 23d having supporting ribs 232 welded to the sides thereof which terminates at its upper end in a vertical block 234 welded `to the outside edge thereof. An L-shaped member consisting of a horizontal table component 236 and a vertical guide member 238 at its rear edge is mounted to block 23d. The table and guide member have a vertical groove 24d in the rear edge thereof which embraces the block 23,4. A threaded bore 242 extends down through the table and guide member. Gibs 244 are bolted to the inside or back of the table and guide member to enclose partially the block 234 and constitute that block a vertical rail for up-and-down adjustment of the table 236. An ear 246 secured to the top of block 234 to extend over bore i242 and an adjustment bolt 243 extends through the ear and into bore 242 for such adjustment. The table has skirts 25d on the sides thereof.

A two-Way pneumatic cylinder 252 is mounted vertically on the outer end of the table 236. The cylinder terminates at its lower end in a base plate 254, and screws 256 extend through the base plate and into the table 236 to mount the cylinder. The table has a bore 258 therethrough centered under the cylinder. The cylinderhas air inlets 26d at the top and bot-tom ends thereof. The rod of the cylinder is a pipe 262 and extends beyond and out of the cylinder at both ends thereof. The pipe has a double gasket structure 264 thereon for the two-way movemeut thereof.

-A cap 266 is mounted on top ofthe upper end 268 of the cylinder by screws 270. The cap is long enough to clear the upper end of the pipe 262 at its uppermost reach. The attachment `of the cap to the cylinder is air tight and the cap has a blow air inlet 272 therein. The pipe is open at both rends. The bottom end 274 thereof has an internally threaded recess 276 into which a downwardly converging nozzle 27 8 is screwed. The bore of the nozzle is cylindrical and continuous with the bore of the pipe 262.

From the description so far, it will be appreciated that plastic is extruded from the extruder into the accumulators and from the accumulators downward out of the die heads 34 as a tubular parison. The mechanism which severs the parison from the die head is illustrated lin FilGS. 7, 8 and 9. A rectangular block 230 is bolted to the under side vof the cutter mount y61E of the carriage by bolts 282. The block 2&0 has an L-shaped groove 284 formed in the lower outside longitudinal edge thereof which contains the complementary L-shaped rail portion 286 of a cutter blade carrier 2813. The cutter blade carrier 288 is an elongated rnember having the rail 286 on one edge thereof from which the remainder `of the member extends laterally outward. A gib 290 is secured against the bottom of the block as by screws 292 so as to confine the rail within the lgroove for longitudinal movement therein. A dou-ble acting cylinder 294 having a rod 296 is secured to the outside face of the block 2S@ by bolts extending through ears 29S at the ends of the cylinder. At the end of the blade carrier remote from the cylinder 294, a tongue 300 is brought tirst outward and then upward to an end which is longitudinally aligned with the rod 2% of the cylinder 294 to constitute a connector for securing the carrier to the cylinder rod. The tongue has a bore therethrough, and a bolt 362 extends through the bore and is threaded into the end of the rod 295. inwardly toward the cylinder a second tongue extends irst laterally outward from the rail 286 below the cylinder 29d as at 304 then upwardly outside the cylinder as at 366 and then again laterally outward as at 303. The portion 338 has a broad groove 310 thereacross within which one end of a blade 312 is secured as by screws 3de. The plane of the movement of the blade is such that the blade travels immediately next to the bottomface of the extruder head as may be best seen in FlG. 7. ln order to admit air int-o the cylinder 294, intersecting bores 316 may be made through the '.7 block` and the cutter mount 64 in communication with the air ports (not shown) of the cylinder.

in FIGS. 13 and i4 l have shown a representative set of dies 32@ to be used in conjunction with my machine. The illustrated dies are for the purpose of making such. containers as 55 gallon drums. The dies consist of a. longitudinally split drum form having semi-cylindrical. Wall surfaces and semicircular top and bottom ends 324- and 326. The dies are supported by rectangular horizontal fins 32S which may be cut out as at 335B to dene feet 332. The ends 334 of the feet are desirably bent over to lie iiat against the clamps 24 and the center plate 14 and are bored for the reception of bolts 336. The center plate and clamps have threaded holes scattered over the facing surfaces thereof to receive the bolts 336 and afford a wide variety of die positions. The ns 328, of course, have semicircular cutouts in their edges opposite to the feet 332 to receive the outside surfaces of the die halves proper.

rPhe top and bottom semicircular ends of the dies have beveled portions 338 in the central part of their meeting edges by which the parison is closed and pinched olf. The beveled areas need be no longer than the flattened width of the parison. The beveled area of the top ends of the dies also has semicircular notches 34d therein which, when the dies are closed, dene a round hole into which the air nozzle its to blow the parison out against the mold surface.

I have on occasion experienced some difficulty in exhausting the air trapped between the parison and the inside of the mold halves. To meet this diliiculty I have provided poppet valves 342 which are particularly illustrated in FG. l5. A central hole 344 is bored through the wall of the die to contain the stem 346 of the poppet valve 342. Other holes 348 are also ybored close to the valve stem hole. The valve 342 has a flat valve face 350 proportioned to cover and close the holes 343. A valve seat 352 is formed on the inside of the mold surface which exactly receives the valve face 35i). The stem of the valve projects beyond the outside surface of the mold when the valve is seated and a spring such as a leaf spring 354 is secured to the outside surface of the mold to bear against the projecting valve stem 346 and urge the valve -to an open position. The poppet valves not only exhaust trapped air but serve as an indicator that the parison is being properly blown.

Two more details should Ibe discussed 'in conjunction with the mechanica-l features of the machine. Considering particularly FIG. i6 an L-shaped bracket 356 is secured to the top edge of the end plates l2 at the rear corner thereof which provide a base 358 and a vertical wall 36) inwandly of the base. Three control switches, blow switch 362, clamp dwell switch 364 and clamp stop open switch 366, are secured to the base 353. The wall 36d has three yholes 363 bored therethrough. At the front side of the bracket 356 a tubular bumper 370 is mounted.

The clamp likewise has an L-shaped bracket 372 secured to its top edge adjacent the back corner which provides a vertical wall 374. T he wall 374 has three holes therein in alignment with the holes in wall 36h. Switch control rods 376, 37S and 38d are adjustably secured in the holes in wall 374 `by set screws 332. The switches 362, 364, 366 have actuating arms 384 which normally lie in the path of the aligned -holes in the walls 36d and 374 and which are actuated by the ends of the rods 376, 373 and 38o moving outwardly through the holes 36S in wall 369 and forcing the switch arms 384 to a position away from the vertical. f

An operating cycle starts `from the illustrated position with all the rods bearing on and actuating the switches. As the clamp moves inward in its cycle, rod 33d timmediately runs off the stop open switch 366. tFurther in its movement, rod 37S is drawn oi the arm of clamp dwell switch 364, and the clamp waits at this point in its movement for a timed interval. The clamp then resumes closing until rod 376 runs oil blow sw-itch 362, when the clamp stops again at its inmoist point of travel. Thereafter, the clamp moves out until rod 33t) actuates clamp .stop open switch 366.

The wall 374 also has a bore 336 therethrough toward the front of the three switch control rod holes.

A push rod 333, which is threaded over nearly half its length, is threaded into the sleeve 8d of the carriage and projects through the ybore 3536 of the clamp bracket wall 374. The unthreaded outer end of the rod 388 is aligned ywith the bumper 370. A nut 3% is mounted on the threaded portion of Athe rod 388 inwardly of the wall 374. The nut 3% is big enough so as not to pass through the bore 386.

The center plate has a block 392 secured to the top edge thereof at the back corner, and a pair of one-way pneumatic cylinders 394 are secured at their bases to the block with the rods 336 thereof extending outwardly. The ends of ythe rods are in alignment with bosses 82 on the inside surface of the carriages.

In the illustrated machine I also show a parison followerassem'nly which need not necessarily be incorporated in the machine but which can be employed to control the parison and to actuate certain elements in the operating cycle of the machine. ln FiG. 17 is shown the one side of the I-beam base lll of the machine viewed from the underside. For orientation the center plate 14 likewise is shown. Two vertical plates 4% are welded at their ends to the underside 462 of the top flanges of the longitudinal I-beams to span the space between them. The plates dip :downwardly from their ends and have a horizontal central section 404. Two other vertical plates 466 are welded at their ends between the ends of the horizontal sections 494 of the plates 43?. Narrow plates 408 (FIG. 22) are bolted to the top edges of the longitudinal plates 4% Iprovide inwardly directed edges or rails 416 along which the parison 'follower assembly may 'be adjustably moved.

The parison yfollower assembly includes a at base plate 412. At its inner end 414 or that end nearer the center plate 14 the plate is wider than the distance between the rails 4l@ and is grooved out on its upper edge las at 416 to be received within the rails 410. Gibs 418 overlie the grooves 416 and contain vthe rails 4M within the grooves. The rail lthickness should be slightly greater than the grooves so that tightening the gibs thereon will lock the base 412 against longitudinal movement. The gibs are secured to the base plate by bolts 420. Outwardly of the grooved portion of the plate the plate edges are reduced in width to lie inside the rails 416 as at 422.

The inner part of the base plate mounts a two-way hydraulic cylinder 423. The plate has a large bore 424 therethrough and the cylinder is inserted into the bore to hang downward therefrom, the cylinder having a rod end cap 426 which is secured to the top face of the base by bolts 428. The rod 430 thereof thus moves upward from the base plate and Idownward toward it.

The rod supports a circular table 432 at its upper end. The tab-le has a diameter somewhat greater than that of the extruded parison. The table is secured to the top of the rod 43@ by a litting 434 which extends nearly to the periphery of the table as at 436 on one side thereof. The fitting 434 has the upper end of a T-shaped cam rail 433 secured against the surface 436 as by screws 44d. The cam rail has about the same external length as the rod 43@ but is situated outside the cylinder 422. The cam -rail is guided at its lower end by a plate 442 secured to the top face of the base 4l2 by screws 444. The cam rail is oriented with the stem 446 thereof facing outwardly from ro-d 430. The guide plate 442 has a rectangular notch 443 formed therein embracing closely the back and sides of the cam rail 438 by which the rail is guided. Since the pressures on the cam rail are exerted either inwardly or laterally, front or outer support is not necessary. The base plate has a large square 9 aperture 456 therein to permit the movement of the cam rail 43S up md down therethrough. l,

In the outer unsupported end 422 of the base 412 a follower -stop up limit switch 45.2 is secured having a switch arm 454 extending over the aperture 45t) on one side of the cam rail 438. A `follower stop down limit switch 456 is likewise .secured to the base having a switch arm 45S extending over the aperture 45@ on the other side of the cam rail 438. A variable flow control valve 469 is secured to the base plate opposite the stem 446 of the cam rail 438 with a cam follower 462 extending over the aperture 456. The flow control valve is of a type in which 'full flow occurs Ithrough the valve when the cam follower is in its illustrated unactuated position and a progressive restriction is introduced into the ow as the cam follower is moved tinto the valve body.

l contemplate that three sorts of cams will be mounted to the cam rail. Referring particularly to FIGS. 19 and 20, a block 464 will be secured to the cam rail toward its top which is offset to the left of the central axis of the rail. A similar cam 46o will be secured to the rail toward its bottom which, however, is offset to the right. The offset of cam 464 is sufficient to engage switch arm 454 of switch 452 to actuate that switch and cam 466 is offset sulciently to the right to engage and actuate switch arm 45S of switch 46. The other cams 468 have no offset and can pass freely between switches 454 and 458 without actuating them, but extend outwardly suiliciently to engage and actuate the cam follower 462 of valve 460. These cams in the illustrated embodiment are rectangular blocks having outer beveled corners 47d. The bevels of cams 468 ywill first engage cam follower 46.2 as the cam rail moves downwardly and cause a progressively diminishing flow of ilu-id through valve `46d. until the follower is against the outer end 472, of the cams. There will then be a period of steady reduced flow through the valve until the cam arrives at the opposite beveled edge after which there will be an increasing ilow until the cam is withdrawn altogether from the follower and full flow occurs. The cams 464, 466 and 463 are mounted to the stem 446 of the cam rail 438 by slots 473 formed in the back side of the cams and a set screw 474 extending through the side of the cams to clamp against the side of the rail stem 446.

The hydraulic system is illustrated diagrammatically in FG. 23. Motors 476 and 473 are provided to power the left side of the machine and the right side respectively. The motors `47( and 478 drive respectively pumps 43d and 432 which operate the accumulator cylinders SQL and 32K and pumps 484 and 486 which operate respectively the clamp cylinders ZtlL and 26K. The output of pumps 4S@ and 482 goes through flow-reversing valves 487 and 4% having a no-ilow center position. Solenoid 489 directs the flow of fluid from pump 43d' through duct 526 to the head end of the left accumulator cylinder ML and solenoid 491 directs the output to the rod end thereof. Solenoid 493 directs the flow of Huid from pump 483 to the head end of the righ-t hand accumulator cylinder 32R and solenoid 495 directs the flow to the rod end thereof. Pumps `434 and 4% are continuous output pumps. Pump 4%4 leads through duct 492 to a four-way valve 494 operated by solenoids 496 and 498. Valve 494 has a nolrow central position in which the pump output is delivered back to reservoir Sott. From the four-way valve 494 duct 502 is connected to the rod end Sfl4 of the left clamp cylinder and duct S496 is connected to the head end 568 thereof. Pump 436 is likewise connected by a duct 51d to a -four-way valve 512 having a rio-flow central position and actuated by solenoids 514 and 516. The four-way valve is connected by duct 518 to the rod end 520` of the right clamp cylinder and through duct 522 to the head end 524 thereof. Pump 48@ is connected by duct 52o to the head end 52S of the left accumulator cylinder and by duct 53d to the rod end 532 thereof. Pump 482 is connected by duct 534 to the head end 536 of the right accumulator cylinder and by duct 538 to the rod end 54)E of the right accumulator cylinder. Ducts 530 and 538-` have pressure actuated switches 539l and ducts S06 yand 522 have pressure actuated switches 507 therein. The hydraulic circuit is provided with appropriately placed pressure relief valves 542 and pressure gauges (not illustrated) will likewise be connected at critical points throughout.

FlG. 24 represents the pneumatic system in diagrammatic fashion. The plant air line 544 delivers air under pressure through duct 545 to the head ends of the carriage return cylinders 394. These cylinders are constantly under pressure. Air under pressure is likewise delivered through a duct 548y to a solenoid 449 `operated four-way valve 55)` to the head 552 and rod 554 ends of the blowpipe control cylinder 252. Normally the rod end of cylinder 252 is under pressure but upon energization of solenoid 449, pressure is delivered to the head end. Air under pressure is also delivered through duct 556 having solenoid 557 operated valve 55S therein to the cap 266 of the blowpipe assembly.

The pneumatic system is likewise connected through duct 545 to a four-way valve 547 operated by a solenoid 549 to operate the cutter cylinder 294. Normally pressure is delivered to the head end 551 of the cylinder but upon energization of the solenoid 549 air is delivered to the rod end 553` of the cylinder.

The hydraulic system of the parison control is illustrated in FlG. 25. Pumps S62 and 564 power the left and right parison followers respectively, drawing fluid from reservoir Still. Both pumps are powered by motor 566'. Since the two sides of the circuit are identical only the left side will be described. Pump 562 delivers fluid through duct 568 to a point 569 and from point 559 through duct 571 to a four-way three-position valve 570 operated by solenoids `572 and 574 and having a central reservoir return position through duct 75, point 577 and duct 579 when both solenoids are de-energized. The valve is connected through duct 578 to the rod end 58h of the parison follower cylinder 422. The head end 582 of the cylinder is connected through ducts 534 and 586 to the variable flow control valve 460'. Duct 583 is connected to the other side of valve 4o@ and to point 5901. Duct 592 returns from point S to the four-way valve 570. Point 569 is connected to a pressure relief Valve 598 which leaks through duct 6W to point 5177 and thence through duct 579 to reservoir Silo. A duct 594 having a check valve 5% therein connects duct 584 to point 59d.

When solenoid 574 is energized, fluid flows from the pump through ducts 568, 571 and S78 to the rod end 580 of the cylinder 422, carrying the parison follower table 432 downward. Fluid, of course, will have to be expelled from the head end of the cylinder in such movement through ducts 584 and 586i, the variable flow control valve 45d, ducts 58S and 5912, four-way valve 57h` and ducts 576 and 579 to reservoir. Fluid is prevented from by-passing the flow control valve 46d' through duct 594 by check valve 5%. As the cam follower 442 of the llow control valve is moved by the cams k463 to restrict the ow of uid through valve 464i, the forced slowing of the descent of the parison follower 4312. exceeds the escape pressure setting of pressure relief valve S93 and a part of the output of the pump 1565% will leak through the pressure relief valve, duct @ilu and duct 579* to reservoir.

When solenoid 572 is energized, fluid is delivered through ducts 563 and S71, valve 571 and duct 592 to pointy 59). From point 59? yiiuid passes through check valve 596 and 584 to the head end of the cylinder to raise again the parison follower. Fluid is exhausted from the rod end of the cylinders through duct `578, the fourway valve 570, and to reservoir.

-It is believed that the electric circuit is best described in conjunction with the operation of the machine. Referring to FIGS. 26A `and B, at the start of the operation of the mach-ine, a main power switch `602 is closed which energizes the leads 603 to the pump motors 476 and 478. Lead 665 delivers current through terminal 606 to the left side control circuit 668 through lead 669 and to the right side control circuit 6i@ through lead 612. Lead 613, connected through terminal 6M to leads 616 and 617, is the ground connection for the two control circuits respectively. A wire 619 is connected across lead 669 and :ground 616 and has therein a normally closed stop switch 620, a normally open let motor start switch 621 and the solenoid of a left motor start relay 623. he starter switch 62E. has a left-motor-start-relay holding switch 625 in parallel therewith. Closing of switch 621 energizes `the solenoid 623 of the left motor start relay to close holding switch 625 and close the normally open switches `626 leading from the main power supply 602 -to motor 476. The right circuit 616 likewise has a line 627 having a normally closed right motor stop switch `628, a normally open right motor stant switch 630 and the solenoid 631 of a right motor start relay therein connected across lines 612 and 6&7. Start switch 630 has a motor-start-relay-operated holding switch 632 in parallel therewith. Closing of the right motor start switch 630 energizes solenoid 631 of the right motor start relay which i1 turn closes the holding switch 632 and the normally open switches 634 to deliver current from the power source 602 to motor 47S.

I provide a rotary selector switch of which only the component switch elements are shown which determines whether, upon energization of the machine, there will be a single cycle `of the lett side, a single cycle of the right side, a single, nonsequencing cycle of both sides, continuous opera-tion of the left end, continuous operation of the right end, or continuous operation of both ends, sequencing. This switch in any of its several positions involves the open or closing of a number of contaots which I will identify as number 635 succeeded by a small letter. yI will describe the circuit as it achieves continuous operation of both ends since this is the primary use intended. In this setting of the selector switch, switches 635:1, 63512, 635C and 635d of the left circuit are closed and switches 635f, 635g and 635]' are open. In the right side control circuits switches 635k, 635m and 63511 are closed and switches 6350, 635p, 635r are opent In the connecting circuit composed of leads 63.6 and 638 which entend between the left and right side control circuits 66S and 6116, switches 635s and 635i are closed. Current is delivered through lead 669, closed selector switches 635e and a normally closed stop switch 639 to connecting lead 638. yReferring to the right sheet, the current continues through lead 638, closed selector switch 635s, lead 640 and a normally closed stop switch 6ft-2 to terminal 643. Current returns to the left control circuit from terminal 643 through lead 644, closed selector switch 635i, and lead 636 to terminal 646. Terminal 646 is connected through a normally open clamp close switch 647 to a conductor 64S which is connected through normally closed contacts 650 and a left first control relay y651. to lead 652. Lead 652 in turn is connected through closed selector switch 635b to ground 6l6.

At the start of a cycle both clamps are open and both parison followers are up. At the time the machine was last stopped, let i-t be assumed that the right side of the machine had just concluded a cycle of operation. The right accumulator is empty and the `left accumulator full. Heaters connected with the extruder, the accumulators and die heads have been kept in operation so the whole body of plastic contained in the extruder and machine is properly plasticized. The extruder auger is started just before or simultaneously with the molding machine rto urge the plastic through the T-joint assembly to the inlet ports of the accumulators. The left accumulator being full, the whole output of the eXtruder will go to the right accumulator. To initiate the cyclic operation of the machine, the clamp close switch 6:57 is pushed closed to energize left rst control relay 65E. The energization of relay 65,1. closes a normally open holding switch 654 in parallel with the clamp close switch 647 to maintain relay `652i in energized condition and normally open contacts 655 in conductor 653 and to open normally closed contacts 656 in conductor 657 (right sheet).

A parison follower control switch 658 is incorporated in the circuit to determine whether the follower will or will not be used. The switch is illustrated in Off position to let it be assumed that it has been turned to On, reversing the position of :the component switches as illustrated.

Parison follower control switch 658 moved to On closes switch 659. Current flows from terminal 646 through closed switch 659, closed contacts 655 or control relay and normally closed contacts 66d, 662, 663, 664 and 666 to terminal 667. From terminal 667, current flows through normally open but now closed switch 669 of left clamp dwell limit switch 364L and normally closed switch 665 of the clamp stop close pressure switch 5ML to energize the left clamp close relay 665. Energization `of relay 663 closes normally open contact 676 to energize the solenoid 498 of valve 494 (FIG. 23) to direct flow from pump 484 into the head end of the left clamp cylinder 2.9L to begin moving the clamp toward closure.

Conductor 671 is energized from terminal 667, through normally closed contacts 672 to energize the left accumulaitor close relay 67d. Energization of relay 674- closes normally open contact 675 which energizes the solenoid 489 of valve 487 to direct the flow of fluid into the head end of the left accumulator operating cylinder 32L to advance the accumulator piston and force the contained plastic out through the die head as a tubular parison.

At this stage in the cycle of operation, the initial movement of the clamp withdraws rod 386 from engagement with the clamp stop open limit switch 366 to permit it assuming normal condition. Also, the advance of the left accumulator piston shuts oil the inlet port to the accumulator and therefore directs all eXtruder flow to the right accumulator. (Phe piston. is long enough to block the inlet port constantly until it is` fully retracted.

The clamp continues to close until rod 373` associated with left clamp dwell limit switch 36d!4 (FIGS. 2 and 23) runs oil" the limit switch arm and permits the limit switch to assume its normal condition with switch 669 open and 676 closed. The opening of switch 669 interrupts the circuit to clamp close relay 668 which energizes solenoid 4618 of valve 494 and permits the valve to assume its center no-tlow position. Further advance of the clamp is thus halted.

The purpose underlying this delay in the closing of the clamp comes about through the necessity of closing the mold on the parison as quickly as possible after its formation. The clamp, therefore, is moved toward the parison at the same moment that parison formation starts but is halted close to the parison until parison formation is concluded. Having that much less far to travel, the clamp is in a position to close very quickly on the parison at the proper moment. The reason for the initial wider clamp opening, of course, is to permit an unloading of the dies or the removal of the formed plastic article thererom. Adjustment of the clamp dwell limit switch rod 378 within the wall 374 will control the distance from the end plate l2 at which the hesitation or dwell of the clamp 24 will occur.

Simultaneously with the initiation of the movement of the clamp and the accumulator, the solenoid 574 of the valve 57@` is energized to direct iluid from pump 562 into the rod end 586 of the parison follower cylinder 422 to draw the parison follower table downward. Solenoid 574 is energized by the closing of normally open contacts 679, which contacts are actuated by a follower down relay 636. The relay in turn is energized from terminal 646, conductor 682, lead 684, normally open contacts 666 and switch 633 of the parison follower control. 'Contacts 666 which are normally open are actuated by energized ac- 

5. IN A BLOW MOLDING MACHINE HAVING A SOURCE OF PLASTIC MATERIAL AND A DIE HEAD FOR EXTRUDING A PARISON OF SAID MATERIAL DOWNWARDLY, A HORIZONTAL PLATE CONSTITUTING A SUPPORT FOR THE END OF SAID MATERIAL, A VERTICAL HYDRAULIC CYLINDER HAVING A PISTON AND ROD, SAID ROD MOUNTING SAID SUPPORT, A HYDRAULIC CIRCUIT HAVING A PUMP AND A VARIABLE FLOW CONTROL VALVE INCLUDING A CAM FOLLOWER ACTUATOR THEREIN FOR LOWERING SAID SUPPORT, SAID CIRCUIT LOWERING SAID SUPPORT AT ABOUT THE RATE OF PARISON EXTRUSION AND A CAM MOVING VERTICALLY WITH SAID ROD AND SITUATED TO ENGAGE SAID CAM FOLLOWER TO DECREASE PROPORTIONATELY TO THE CAM FOLLOWER DISPLACEMENT THE RATE OF LOWERING OF SAID SUPPORT.
 8. A BLOW MOLDING MACHINE FOR FORMING LARGE HOLLOW ARTICLES AND INCLUDING A DIE HEAD ARRANGED FOR THE DOWNWARD DELIVERY OF A TUBULAR PARISON AND A PAIR OF MOLD HALVES RELATIVELY MOVABLE BETWEEN A POSITION SPACED FROM EACH OTHER TO PERMIT THE REMOVAL OF A FORMED ARTICLE THEREFROM AND A POSITION CLOSED ON SAID PARISON, CONTROL MEANS TO BEGIN THE EXTRUSION OF A PARISON FROM SAID DIE HEAD AND RELATIVE CLOSURE OF SAID MOLD HALVES, CONTROL MEANS INTERRUPTING THE RELATIVE CLOSING MOVEMENT OF SAID MOLD HALVES AT A POINT WHERE SAID MOLD HALVES NARROWLY AVOID SAID FORMING PARISON AND CONTROL MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE COMPLETION OF SAID PARISON TO RESUME THE RELATIVE CLOSING MOVEMENT OF SAID MOLD HALVES ON SAID PARISON. 